The Macomb Daily/DAVID DALTON
Hiram Squires of Warren feels the positive energy during the National Day of Prayer observance at Warren City Hall.

Marianne Geyer frequently wiped tears as she bowed her head, listening to religious leaders guide hundreds of people in prayer Thursday in Warren.

Geyer, 64, was among more than 700 people who gathered under a sunny sky and temperatures in the 70s at the city's annual National Day of Prayer observance outside Warren City Hall.

"To unite together in prayer is the most wonderful thing. All different races, different faiths," she said. "It's just so beautiful, all these people coming together for one purpose: Change."

A total of eight religion officials led the crowd in asking God for spiritual guidance, inspiration and direction. The focus was on prayers for the military, government officials including first responders, families, business and labor, the media, churches and education.

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Pastor Doug Williams prayed that wayward children be led back home.

"Bring back structure in the family today in the mighty name of Jesus," he said.

Associate Pastor Janine McLatcher asked for a rise in the standards of influential people in the media, hoping that decision makers in the press have the fear of God.

"Seek truth and temper it with grace and mercy," said McLatcher, of Lord of the Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Terry Frazier, pastor of Liberty Foursquare Church in Warren, seemed to inspire the crowd when he asked God to light a fire within individuals.

"The church, Lord, has been asleep for far too long. Wake us from the slumber of our sin," said Frazier, his voice booming from loudspeakers outside the City Hall atrium. "Raise up an army of believers who are not ashamed of the gospel. Let fire guide people from the storms of life into the safety of your arms.

"As we pray for revival, we pray for the renewal of things that made this country great!" he said.

Warren Mayor James Fouts drew applause when he reminded the crowd that the city prevailed in a lawsuit filed against Warren stemming from a nativity scene placed annually in the atrium during the holidays by the Warren Lions Club. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit after Fouts nixed a request by the Wisconsin-based non-profit to put up its Winter Solstice sign that says religion is a myth.

"It will never, ever be put up as long as I'm mayor," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's a victory for free speech and taxpayers of Warren."

The FFRF had argued its case on free speech grounds, charging that Fouts was guilty of censorship.

At previous National Day of Prayer observances in Warren, a few members of FFRF attended the event, carrying signs in protest, officials said.

None were seen Thursday.

The mayor also said a prayer station on the first floor of City Hall will remain a fixture.

Debby Wuttke of Sterling Heights attended the Warren observance for the first time, and brought daughters, Isabel, 7, 5-year-old Jane, Scarlet, 3, and 10-month-old Moriah.

"We talked about the privilege to come out and worship in public," Wuttke said. "This was wonderful."

Created by Congress in 1952 and amended in 1988, the National Day of Prayer encourages people of all faiths to gather for prayer on the first Thursday in May.

"We had a cross section of individuals, from youth to elderly," said Howard, who works as outreach coordinator at Life Application Ministries Christian Church in Warren. "This is a great victory for religion as a whole."

Other local events were planned in the area, including at the Clinton Township Civic Center and in Shelby Township at Cherry Creek Golf Club.